Karen Reyes
I had the Caffè al Peppe and my boyfriend got a caramel latte. Both were really good! I don’t remember the exact ingredients of the Caffè al Peppe, but it was milky, with foam similar to a latte, a hint of spice (like pepper), and a nice touch of espresso bitterness, really unique.
The caramel latte was also great. It wasn’t on the menu, but my boyfriend wanted something sweet and the staff kindly offered to prepare it for him.
Both girls behind the bar were kind and professional. The place is quite small, but we really enjoyed sitting at the bar by the window.
… moreEmily Esposito
The lattes here are amazing!! I really love their flavored syrups as well. There are a few tables in the building lobby, but not a lot of space otherwise. Love the Friday special — free drink when you buy a bag of coffee beans!
… moreMoises Treviño Garcia
Caffe Umbria was exactly what I needed that morning. It was cold, wet and I wanted something hot, simple as that. Small and cozy spot. The kind of place where you slow down without trying. The staff was genuinely nice too. Asked how my day was and even recommended couple of pastries.
I ordered a hot chocolate with an almond blueberry financier. The hot chocolate was honestly perfect. Rich but not heavy. You get that dark chocolate hit first, then it smooths out. Creamy. Warm in the right way. The financier was great. Nutty from the almonds, little bursts of blueberry, soft but not mushy. I dipped it into the hot chocolate (had to), and yeah… even better. No regrets there.
It’s a small place, but if you get there early, you might grab a seat with a really nice city view. Worth it. I’ll definitely be back. Especially now that I know there’s a solid hot chocolate spot right nearby.
… moreAshley Dao
We got the brown sugar cinnamon latte and a matcha with honey syrup instead of their regular syrup. Highly recommend! We saw that their regular matcha can be too sweet, so this honey syrup was perfect for me! The matcha and coffee both have great depth
… moreSuman Hazra
Pretty small cafe right next to the river. They have some high chairs inside and two or three more tables outside, but overall, this is a grab and go kind of cafe because they are very limited seats. Got the ice vanilla latte, and it was really good. I could tell that the coffee was really high-quality. They also have a lot of coffee on display that you can buy. Overall, a great spot to grab a quick coffee imo.
… moreRachel Yang
I’ve been coming here whenever I’m in town! Really nice coffee with good seasonal flavors and speciality drinks. I have tried Mayan inspired latte and Patonette latte. Great service too! They gave me a free drink coupon because I waited for 15 minutes. Definitely will be back next time soon!
… moreEli Andersen
Great coffee. Definitely more of a modern coffee shop that is more focused on late type drinks. But I ordered an espresso and it was excellently dialed in! Would recommend for the true coffee lover
… moreMichael Beauregard
This morning I find myself on the southern edge of Chicago’s “Loop” at Cafe Umbria, one of the highest rated places in the city for a cappuccino.
The cafe’s quaint, with a neighborhood feel which is inviting. My ritual order of a cappuccino, a bit dry, in a mug, was paired with an Americano, a Pan Au Chocolates and a ham & cheese pastry.
Considering Umbrias ratings on Yelp and Google, perhaps I expected a bit more. Quite a bit.
The cappuccino was presented without a degree of care I would have expected. Rather than “a bit dry”, the flavor was milk foam forward. However, the espresso underbelly was very enjoyable. The roast was smooth, yet bold.
The Americano was more enjoyable as the roast wasn’t masked by the facade of foam.
And, while I don’t make the trip for the pastry, the ham & cheese was served cold, and the Pan Au Chocolates that I typically enjoy wasn’t fresh.
Chicago is a wonderful city, despite what you may read in the press. Alive with people, foods, colors, and aromas that make it a fantastic weekend escape. I just hope to find a cappuccino worthy of the city.
Enjoy.
… moreCristian S
I do not recommend Umbría Café. The coffee tasted very unpleasant, and the lack of cleanliness made a bad impression from the start. The experience was so disappointing that I wouldn’t return even if it were free. They seriously need to improve both quality and hygiene if they want to attract and keep customers.
… moreN Surabhi
Went in to grab their Caffe Mocha after for to-go. It was mild and chocolatey, quality was definitely great. Even though I asked for extra extra hot, it was barely hot as I walked out of the door
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